President Joe Biden, aged 81, recently underwent a medical examination following concerns about his mental fitness, which were exacerbated by his lackluster performance at the first 2024 election debate.
This information was shared with a group of 20 governors, according to insiders. The president's health has been a topic of concern among senior Democrats, some of whom have publicly urged him to withdraw from the presidential race or predicted his defeat on election day. The polls, too, seem to favor former President Donald Trump, who currently holds a six-point lead over Biden.
According to The Independent, Biden reassured attendees at a meeting on Wednesday that he was in good health following his check-up. This hour-long meeting was marked by the president audibly knocking on wood before making his health announcement, as reported by two attendees. An individual familiar with Biden's schedule stated that the president had a brief, non-exhaustive check-up following the debate due to cold symptoms, and that no major tests were conducted.
This health update came shortly after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre evaded questions from reporters about whether the president had sought medical attention since the debate. "The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report," Jean-Pierre stated, promising to continue this practice. When The Independent's White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg questioned Jean-Pierre about rumors of Biden's dementia, she categorically denied that the president suffers from any form of degenerative brain disease. She also expressed hope that Trump's campaign would face similar scrutiny.
Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Biden "did not have a great night" during the debate against Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, but emphasized his ability to "deliver for the American people." First Lady Jill Biden echoed this sentiment in a Vogue interview, asserting that "those 90 minutes" should not "define the four years he's been president."
Biden's health update and reassurances are part of his ongoing efforts to convince his divided Democratic camp of his fitness and readiness for another presidential term. Prior to his health update, Biden participated in a Zoom call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff, vowing that "no one's pushing me out," as another source revealed.
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